Review by Ian Keogh

Ultraman is a combination of Shin Hiyata, ordinary human, but in constant contact with alien Ultra. When danger is near Shin can transform into Ultraman, but only for three minutes, and too many transformations could lead to fatal consequences.

Marvel’s version of Ultraman is a reintroduction of the mythos already known in Japan. Kyle Higgins and Mat Groom’s Rise of Ultraman showed how wannabe agent Shin was in the right place at the right time to merge with an alien sent to protect Earth from Kaiju. It ended with all the monsters shifted away from Earth over a forty year period now returned, although they’re proving harder to locate than might be expected for giant creatures. It’s led to the previously secret United Science Project revealing themselves to the world, and while some wrong ‘uns within the organisation have been outed, secrets remain.

This second volume is structured far more like a traditional Marvel series with the emphasis on Shin’s personal life as well as his heroism. He’s told why his position as Ultraman must remain secret, and there’s the problem of a USP agent who disappeared in the 1960s, and has now come back. He’s of great interest to Ultra as the last person to have seen Ultra’s brother.

As before Francesco Manna’s tidy art tells the story extremely well, and as before Higgins and Groom bog that story down with too many words. Explanation after explanation is needed as yet another shady set of people are introduced, and once again the unnecessary complications prevent what people really want to see, which is Ultraman in action. Mind you, Ultra himself’s not that keen at times. When he does appear, though, Manna has him looking spectacular as per the sample art.

While there are good aspects, Shin’s relationship with his father for one, too often the writers veer away from what’s interesting into dull conversation. However, they provide a shocking ending leading to The Mystery of the Ultraseven.